Volunteer Spotlight: Lisa Summerscales

Guest post by Lisa Summerscales. Lisa is a volunteer from St. Monica's Catholic Church in Santa Monica.

I have always wanted to get involved with Habitat for Humanity, but never took the leap. That is until I was blessed enough to walk into the Habitat presentation on the New Mexico build St. Monica's had done this past summer. I was so taken aback and inspired after the meeting that there was no way I couldn't jump in.

I signed up for the next build and before I knew it I was at St. Monica's very first site ready to build. I had no idea what I was getting into, but had a feeling I was about to be apart of something wonderful. The next thing I knew I had a jackhammer in my hands. I am five foot seven and the jackhammer was at least three quarters the size of me. It was time to get down to business. Our team's goal was to strip the house of everything that was there before. We tore out the previous insulation, cleaned out gutters, rebuilt roofs and pounded away at the concrete surrounding this home. We used jackhammers, sledgehammers, pickaxe and mostly strength from God to demolish the concrete around this home in order to build anew. What originally seemed like a task that could not be accomplished (at least in one day) rapidly came to fruition. Granted our entire team "felt the burn" from that build in our muscles, but also in our hearts for us to continue to build.

We worked on that site for hours. I was so impressed by my team, the work we were doing was difficult and tasking on the body, but not once did anyone complain about anything, everyone was there to help. The energy on that build was extremely positive and most of all contagious. I am still shocked by the work we accomplished on that day. Toward the end of our build day we received one of the greatest rewards. We took a walk around the block to see a home that was recently renovated by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles. This was an example of what the home we were building that day would soon look like. This home was ready for its next family. It was safe and beautiful, a great place to start a new life. It was in that moment that I realized the magnitude of what we were doing. What a special gift to be a part of. That day we helped give a family a new start, a new life, a new home and a lifetime of memories. I am so blessed to have been apart of that day and in a way a part of that family's journey. I can't wait to build again!

If you are interest in volunteering click here.

Related Posts:
Volunteer Highlight: Vicki Cunningham
Volunteer Spotlight: Lauren Morris
Volunteer Spotlight on Jay Alan Cutler

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